WELCOME TO
THE BIG TENT FOR OUTDOOR RECREATION
Image Alt Text

The mission  of the Big Tent  is to promote sustainable, diverse, equitable, and inclusive outdoor experiences in Washington state through advocacy and education.

LEARN MORE

2025 Big Tent Outdoor Recreation Coalition Weekly Policy Calls

January 17 - end of session
Fridays 12:00 p.m. - 12:30 p.m.
[Learn More]

 

#RecreateResponsibly to Protect Yourself, Others, and the Outdoors

During this public health crisis, spending time in outdoor spaces has become even more important for many Americans. Yet these unusual circumstances mean that all of us, from seasoned outdoor enthusiasts to families heading out to their local park for the first time, could use a little guidance about how to stay safe. The Recreate Responsibly guidelines offer a starting point for getting outside to keep yourself healthy and to maintain access to our parks, trails, and beaches. [ LEARN MORE ]

 

SPONSORS

We Represent
Outdoor Recreation

The power of the Big Tent lies not with any individual or with any shiny advertising or marketing campaigns, but with the combined weight of dozens of organizations and agencies who believe in the collective value of outdoor recreation.

We are an organic group, with no Executive Director.  We come together periodically, meet on an as-needed basis, and gather each year in Olympia to show policy-makers and opinion leaders that outdoor recreation is a critical sector in Washington, one that brings jobs, revenue, active and healthy living, and tourism to a state blessed with mind-numbing natural beauty.  
 
On this website you will find a statement about who we are and how we came to be; a listing of our current members; contacts; information about how you can join us; meeting announcements; links to press releases and topical articles; and of course some background pictures of the outdoors.
 
We hope you find this site helpful, and that you won’t hesitate to tell us how we can add to it and improve.  It belongs to all of us who marvel at the stunning natural resources which make Washington a special place in which to live, work, and play.  Thanks for stopping by!

Analysis of outdoor recreation industry finds its contribution to GDP larger than that of oil, gas extraction

The Spokesman- Review

A federal government analysis of the outdoor recreation’s economic impact reaffirms what many conservation groups have said for decades. Outdoor recreation is a big business. For the first time ever the U.S. Department of Commerce looked specifically at the economic impact of outdoor recreation. The analysis was published last week.
Read more

Washington Outdoor Recreation Summit

Friday, February 23, 2018 at Bellingham Technical College

Building on momentum at the state and national level we are bringing Recreation Industry Professionals – retailers, manufacturers, tourism promoters, land managers and stewardship organizations – together to explore and share ways to grow and promote Washington State’s flourishing recreation economy.
Read more
REI to support second-ever "Confluence Summit" among outdoor recreation leaders in Asheville, N.C., this July REI to support second-ever "Confluence Summit" among outdoor recreation leaders in Asheville, N.C., this July

REI to support second-ever "Confluence Summit" among outdoor recreation leaders in Asheville, N.C., this July

PRNewswire

KENT, Wash., Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Earlier today, the State of North Carolina announced its intention to host the second-ever "Confluence Summit" for state-level outdoor recreation leaders in Asheville this July. There are currently eight states – Colorado, Montana, North Carolina, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, Washington and Wyoming – with an office, director or task force dedicated to the well-being of the outdoor recreation industry and to greater public access to outdoor experiences.
Read more

Outdoor Recreation Caucus Meeting

January 11, 2018, 7 am, Senate Rules Room

The newly formed Outdoor Recreation Caucus that we had a major role in organizing will hold its first meeting in Olympia on Thursday January 11, 2018, and will meet on a weekly basis through the session. Please find the agenda here for the Outdoor Recreation Caucus meeting on January 11, 2018 at 7 am in the Senate Rules Room.
Read more

Stakeholder Call on Outdoor Recreation in Higher Education

Senator Ranker

As Chair of the Higher Education & Workforce Development Committee, Senator Ranker is interested in expanding outdoor recreation credentials at higher education institutions in Washington. He has taken note of the efforts of Colorado’s Office of Outdoor Recreation Industry to establish the following degree programs, and he would like to do something similar in Washington.
Read more

Final Report on "Rec Pass" and Recommendations

Ruckelshaus Center issues final report

See the ATTACHED Word Doc (“Recreation Fees Final Report…”) for a blurb that touches on key recommendations and options in the final report. Below are links to the Final Report Executive Summary and the full Final Report. We’ve also cut and pasted the budget proviso language from Governor Inslee’s proposed FY 2018 Operating Budget that, if adopted by the Legislature, would allow for the hiring of a consultant to more closely analyze and estimate fiscal impacts and revenue potential of the three preferred options that were in the report.
Read more
Letters From the Outdoors Letters From the Outdoors

Letters From the Outdoors

Mike Racine, President, Big Tent Outdoor Recreation Coalition

Hello Washington outdoor recreationalists, This is the first of an ongoing initiative to communicate regularly regarding issues that affect the outdoor recreation community and economy in Washington. As you may know, the Big Tent Outdoor Recreation Coalition works to effect policy and investment by the state of Washington as it relates to outdoor recreation. We believe communication between us and our members is a key element of doing that job effectively. We hope you enjoy the inaugural “Letter from the Outdoors”. REI recently developed a new report, “The Path Ahead”, aimed at prompting deeper dialogue about why we all ought to #OptOutside. Did you know the average American spends 95% of their life indoors? What does that lead to?
Read more
RSS
First1819202123252627Last

Washington State's Outdoor Recreation Economy Generates

View the 2020 Economic Analysis of Outdoor Recreation in Washington State for details